The Modern Mountain Cookbook: A Plant-Based Celebration of Appalachia

by Jan A. Brandenburg, Beth Feagan (Foreword by)

Overview

Between soup beans seasoned with bacon grease, pot roast, and gravy-drowned meatloaf, Appalachian cuisine is known for featuring plenty of meat. Even seemingly innocent sides like potato salad and mac and cheese often contain animal products. Though adopting a plant-based diet comes with life-changing benefits, it has also stopped many people from enjoying the food they were raised on. Embracing her grandmother's fearless approach to cooking while staying true to her own beliefs, Appalachian vegan Jan A. Brandenburg has diligently worked to create a cookbook that captures the flavor and comfort that came with every bite of her favorites from back home.

In The Modern Mountain Cookbook: A Plant-Based Celebration of Appalachia, Brandenburg updates the meals of her eastern Kentucky childhood to make them accessible to everyone—including cooks of any skill level—looking to incorporate more veg-friendly fare into their rotation. From eggless scramble for breakfast to fried chick'n for supper, this innovative cookbook provides readers with an extensive menu of delicious, cruelty-free dishes fit for all occasions. Brandenburg feeds both body and soul as she folds in lessons learned from generations of women and memories of family gatherings around the table with sure-to-please recipes, including creamy potato soup, country-fried steak, roasted jalapeno pimento cheese, hash brown and broccoli casseroles, and bourbon pecan pie.

Appalachian and plant-based cooking are no longer at odds—people who love country classics can preserve their culinary traditions while eating a healthier, more ethical diet. With The Modern Mountain Cookbook in one hand and a cast-iron skillet in the other, you can have your pineapple upside-down cake and eat it, too.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781985901766
Publisher:	University Press of Kentucky
Publication date:	03/18/2025
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Jan A. Brandenburg is a cook, digital content creator, and pharmacist from eastern Kentucky. Wanting to enjoy the flavors of her childhood without supporting the meat industry, she has spent years developing plant-based alternatives to traditional Appalachian dishes. Find her on Instagram @appalachianvegan.

Table of Contents

Foreword, by Beth Feagan
Introduction
Vegan Kitchen Essentials
1. Breakfast and Brunch
2. Sandwiches
3. Appetizers and Snacks
4. Salads
5. Soups
6. Main Courses
7. Breads
8. Vegetables and Sides
9. Desserts
10. Sauces, Gravies, Dressings, and a Jelly
Index

Editorial Reviews

Learn how to make vegan chocolate chip cookies with author Jan Brandenburg— watch now!

From the Publisher

Jan Brandenburg has taken her experience with plant-based cooking all the way to the home cooking of Appalachia, perfecting recipes for everything from chick'n pot pie to exquisite Italian cream cake. Throughout Brandenburg's life, her culinary love affair has inspired her to share cherished dishes with those who don't want to change their traditions, whatever their diet. Ring that dinner bell and enjoy!

Barbara Napier

A charming, unpretentious peek inside a love-filled, plant-based kitchen, The Modern Mountain Cookbook is at once a tribute to Brandenburg's homeland and culinary heritage while also standing as a subtly polite rebuttal to the oft misrepresented nature of Appalachian cookery. This is a delicious read.

Lauren McDuffie

Nestled in the foothills of Eastern Kentucky's Appalachian mountains, pharmacist and cookbook author Jan A. Brandenburg finds herself at home. Her debut cookbook, an homage to the region and cultural cuisine that defined her childhood, reimagines meaty Appalchian favorites made vegan. Simple yet chock full of flavor, this cookbook is designed for anyone, anywhere—from rural corners of the world to bustling city kitchens—to enjoy fuss-free vegan fare.

VegNews

Exceptionally well organized and presented.... The Modern Mountain Cookbook is an impressive compendium of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, health promoting dishes that are as nutritious as they are delicious.

Midwest Book Review

A cookbook rooted in warm memories of stories and meals shared around tables laden with comforting home-cooked food, Jan A. Brandenburg's The Modern Mountain Cookbook honors both the long-held traditions of generations of Appalachian women and the modern desire for cruelty-free, healthful, plant-based cuisine.... Chatty and tinged with nostalgia, the book is as much about story as it is about cooking. While representing a personal commitment to veganism, with its recipes updated and designed to appeal to vegan sensibilities, it doesn't take a hard line with meat eaters. Instead, it tempts and entices, even going as far as to recommend several types of meat-replacement products to smooth the transition.... The Modern Mountain Cookbook is a heartwarming cookbook that translates traditional Appalachian cuisine into vegan delights designed to appeal to all palates.

Foreword Reviews (starred)